Colts sign Shrewsbury's Shawn Loiseau

Wednesday

Nov 14, 2012 at 6:00 AMNov 14, 2012 at 9:11 AM

Shawn Loiseau has been working out feverishly and waiting patiently for another NFL opportunity since he was part of the last round of cuts by the Houston Texans on Aug. 31. That chance came yesterday when the Indianapolis Colts signed the Shrewsbury High alum to their eight-man practice squad.

By Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Shawn Loiseau has been working out feverishly and waiting patiently for another NFL opportunity since he was part of the last round of cuts by the Houston Texans on Aug. 31.

That chance came yesterday when the Indianapolis Colts signed the Shrewsbury High alum to their eight-man practice squad.

“They said they liked my intensity and approach to the game,” Loiseau said last night when reached in Indianapolis, where he arrived earlier in the day. “They told me to work as hard as I possibly can and I'll be able to stick around.”

The 6-foot, 239-pound linebacker will take part in his first practice today as the surprising Colts, who are 6-3 after having gone 2-14 last season, begin preparations for their game Sunday against his hometown Patriots in New England.

“It's crazy,” Loiseau, 23, said of the timing of the signing.

Loiseau, a former T&G Super Team selection who went on to become a two-time Division 2 All-American at Merrimack College, went undrafted in April but drew the interest of a number of teams because of his potential as a contributor on both special teams and defense.

The Colts were among several teams that talked to Loiseau prior to the draft. They resumed contact after his release, brought him in for a workout a few weeks ago and offered a contract Monday, which Loiseau quickly accepted.

“I've just been waiting for my opportunity, keeping my head down and working hard,” said Loiseau, who spent the fall training at Merrimack and helping out with the football team. “I knew the opportunity would come and I'm grateful to the Colts for giving me that opportunity.”

Loiseau said he feels good physically right now and believes he'll round into football shape in no time at all because, as he mentioned a few times, “I'm going to go in and work as hard as I can.”

Loiseau (pronounced Low-EE-so) was named Massachusetts Defensive Player of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in his senior year at Shrewsbury, when he led the Colonials to a 13-0 season and a Division 1A Super Bowl victory over Westfield.